Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Mentioning that night she got drunk, Leda touched her nose with a hint of embarrassment.

"It was all my mom's fault, insisting I attend this so-called youth mixer. It was basically a speed dating dinner in disguise."

The young men and women were like items on display, laid out for selection.

Nola was great in every way, except for being a bit of a worrywart.

Going on about how 'unequal matches never work out' and 'love can't survive on empty pockets,' blah blah blah...

Leda was over it.

After the last visit home, she laid down the law with Nola: she could consider matches of similar social standing, but the final choice was hers to make.

In return, Nola had to swear off arranging any more blind dates or mixers behind her back.

Roseanne: "Choose for yourself?"

"Yeah, as long as the guy's family isn't broke, my mom's cool with it. Easy, I'll just pick from our circle!"

"You're really going to pick?"

Roseanne blinked.

these men who would dote on her, pamper her, and treat her like a queen... that seemed nearly

from privilege, they all had an extra layer of pride. We're all from

have to choose, or I can't face my mom. But I'm not

us in our circle being pushed into marriage. Since none of us want to follow our

put on a show in public, pretend we're together,

they could keep their families off their backs without the constant nagging, while still enjoying their freedom on

worry, I know

moment when Leda went to the restroom

they headed out, Leda pouted, "I said it was my treat, why did you go and

"I can't let you foot the bill every time. I'm not

"Right, my little heiress."

reached out to pinch

it hurts. Keep your hands to yourself in public, it's not a good

two girls laughed their way through the lobby, heading

a moment,

halt and instinctively look in the direction

an upstairs private room, mostly middle-aged some with streaks of gray, neady all dressed in polo shirts with chinos-a scholarly vibe all

young man at the center

and handsome, he was a stark contrast